After accepting the marriage proposal of Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) in the last episode of "Downton Abbey," Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) has not only laid new claim on the regal estate on PBS, but she's making a bold Emmy grab too. She's moving up to the lead actress race after failing to be nominated last year in supporting.

Granted, it's a whole new Emmy game for "Downton Abbey" as it moves over to the drama series categories after reigning as Best Miniseries last year, but the show had much more humble aspirations in 2011. Only five of its actors were submitted for Emmy consideration. In addition to Dockery, Hugh Bonneview (Robert) was entered in lead, Elizabeth McGovern (Cora) in lead, Maggie Smith (Violet) in supporting, Brendan Coyle (John) in supporting. Only McGovern and Smith were nominated; Smith won.

Now Dockery will square off against McGovern, who portrays her warm-hearted mum on the show, but it's rather a justifiable power play by a character prone to devious scheming on screen. In the show's first season, Dockery's Lady Mary was just one more character in an ensemble drama, but she's recently taken over the show as audiences cheer on her pained on/off, up/down romance with Matthew Crawley (Stevens). Stevens is being submitted for Emmy consideration for the first time.